The Handmaid's Tale

Offred says she “wish[es] this story were different” and that it “showed me in a better light, if not happier then at least more active, less hesitant, less distracted by trivia” (279). She notes that by “telling you anything at all I’m at least believing in you […] I believe you into existence” (279).

Offred reveals that she “[goes] back to Nick. Time after time, on my own, without Serena knowing” and that “I did not do it for him, but for myself entirely” (280). The encounters are passionate, unlike her time with the Commander. With him, “I close my eyes, even when I am only kissing him goodnight” (281). She tells the Commander that she believes she is pregnant although she knows that this “is wishful thinking” (283).

Ofglen suggests that Offred sneak into the Commander’s study and search his desk for information, but Offred is reluctant, thinking that “the Commander is no longer of immediate interest to me” (282). She tells Ofglen that she “can’t” and is “too afraid” and “scarcely take[s] the trouble to sound regretful” (283).

Ofglen says that they could get her out if she is in “immediate danger,” and Offred admits to herself, “I no longer want to leave, escape, cross the border to freedom. I want to be here, with Nick, where I can get at him” (283). She feels “relief” (283) when Ofglen begins to give up on her.

Offred attends a public execution, “a district Salvaging, for women only” (284). Wives, daughters, Marthas, and Handmaids gather in front of a stage on which sit “two Handmaids, one Wife” (285). They are joined by “Salvagers in their black hoods” (285) and several Aunts, including Aunt Lydia. A long rope runs along the rows of attendees and up onto the stage “like a fuse” (285).

Aunt Lydia announces that they used to precede the “Salvagings with a detailed account of the crimes of which the prisoners stand convicted” but that this has been stopped because it always led to “an outbreak […] of similar crimes” (287). The crowd is upset because the “crimes of others are a secret language […] [through which] we show ourselves what we might be capable of” (287).

Offred knows how these events proceed: the women are hanged while Offred, like the rest of the crowd, places her hands on the rope and then on her heart “to show my unity with the Salvagers and my consent, my complicity in the death of this woman” (288).

After the Salvaging, the Handmaids are told to form a circle for “a Particicution,” an execution in which Handmaids participate (290), and a man is dragged into it. He is so badly beaten his face “doesn’t look like a face,” and “he smells of shit and vomit” (290). Aunt Lydia says that he “has been convicted of rape” but refuses to give details “except to say that one woman was pregnant and the baby died” (290). Along with the other Handmaids, Offred feels “bloodlust; I want to tear, gouge, rend” (291).

The man says, “I didn’t…” but there is “a surge forward” (291). Offred explains that “we are permitted anything and this is freedom” (292). Ofglen shoves her way to the front and “pushes him down, sideways, then kicks his head viciously, one, two, three times” (291) before the others reach him and “he’s obscured by arms, fists, feet” (291-92).

Filled with “shock, outrage, nausea,” Offred confronts Ofglen about her actions, but the other Handmaid explains that the man “wasn’t a rapist at all, he was a political. He was one of ours” and that she “knocked him out. Put him out of his misery” (292) before he was viciously mobbed to death.

Later, Offred waits to meet Ofglen for their walk, but when the Handmaid arrives, “[s]he isn’t Ofglen” (294). They exchange orthodox greetings, and Offred asks, “Has Ofglen been transferred, so soon?” and the Handmaid replies, “I am Ofglen” (295). Offed realizes that “of course she is, the new one, and Ofglen, wherever she is, is no longer Ofglen” (295).

Offred is alert, her “body is no longer for pleasure only but senses its jeopardy” (296). She tries the “May Day” password unsuccessfully and realizes that the new Ofglen “isn’t one of us. But she knows” (297). However, as they part, Ofglen leans forward and whispers that the old Ofglen “hanged herself” when she “saw the van coming for her. It was better” (297).

Offed feels “great relief” (298) that Ofglen died before she could implicate her. She promises God, “Now that you’ve let me off, I’ll obliterate myself […] become a chalice. I’ll give up Nick, I’ll forget about the others” (298). She wants “to keep on living, in any form. I resign my body freely, to the uses of others” (298).

When she returns home, Serena confronts her with the garment she wore to Jezebel’s, complaining, “There was lipstick on it” and asking, “How could you be so vulgar?” (299). She says that Offred is “[j]ust like the other one. A slut. You’ll end up the same” (299). As Offred goes up to her room, she is “orderly and calm” (299).